textproduct: Quad Cities

KEY MESSAGES

- Mid-Afternoon and through tonight, we will see a few rounds of showers and storms move through the area. Overall amounts will be around and inch or less, with a focused corridor over an inch possible.

- Quieter weather will be seen Friday into Saturday, as high pressure moves through the area.

- More amplified and active pattern takes shape Sunday through the start of the next work week, bringing several chances for showers and storms.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/

Issued at 207 PM CDT Thu Apr 9 2026

Showers and isolated thunderstorms will spread into parts of east central Iowa late this afternoon and slowly expand northeastward with time into this evening.

Zonal flow continues over the region through tonight with a shortwave moving across the area this evening. Ahead of that wave, A strong southwesterly jet of 30 to 40 is forecast to develop across the area with convergence focused between the Highway 30 corridor and Highway 34 or between a Cedar Rapids to Sterling Rock Falls to a Fairfield to Galesburg line. This will lead to expanding showers across the area especially after 00 UTC Friday. The low level jet will veer to the east of the area after 09 UTC decreasing lift across the area. In addition, 700 MB FGEN forcing will develop across the area late this afternoon and into this evening and slowly sink east southeast with time. This will lead to the area of showers sinking east southeastward with time tonight. Precipitation will slowly come to an end from northwest to southeast into Friday morning after 09 UTC. Rainfall amounts of 1 to 1.50 inches are possible between Highway 30 and Highway 34. Thunderstorms are possible, mainly south of Interstate 80 but the storms will not be widespread. If storms do occur, amounts near 2.00 inches are possible. Low temperatures tonight are forecast to range from the upper 30s west of a Cedar Rapids to Manchester line to around 50 in far southeast Iowa, west central Illinois, and far northeast Missouri.

LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/

Issued at 215 AM CDT Thu Apr 9 2026

Aside from showers moving out of our south in the morning, Friday is geared to be a pleasant day to close the week. High pressure will be on its approach, with light northerly winds being seen through the day. Post-frontal airmass will keep temperatures in the mid to upper 50s to near 60, with decreasing cloud cover. So, while the day will start quite grey and damp, the afternoon will feature more sun for some.

High pressure and associated ridging push east Saturday into Sunday, with upper level flow becoming more southwesterly. This would favor strong WAA into the region, especially on Sunday. Saturday will serve as the transitional day, which should keep us largely dry with temperatures in the 60s and a southeasterly breeze. A shortwave will eject off of the Rockies Saturday night into Sunday, with a strong LLJ setting up ahead of this wave. These features will result in sufficient forcing for evening/overnight showers/storms Saturday. Surface low will then track through the northern Plains and Upper Midwest on Sunday, with the associated cold front stalling out north of the area. Strong WAA will remain over the area, allowing temperatures to soar into the 70s. We will continue to see weak bouts of vorticity pass through the area, where scattered showers and storms may result. Best forcing currently seems to be in our north Sunday afternoon and through the night, which should be where we see the best chance for showers/storms. The overall severe threat seems low at this point.

Compared to the last forecast package, the main wave that was set to come through Monday/Tuesday has slowed down, with impacts from that now largely moving in Tuesday into Wednesday. We will still see the chance for showers/storms Monday into Tuesday, but will largely be due to weak bouts of energy ahead of the main wave. Thus, weaker forcing overall. Best forcing will be with that main wave Tuesday into Wednesday, especially with the surface cold front progged to come through Tuesday night. There is a lot variability between the models for next Monday through Thursday with timing and placement important for the strength of any shower and thunderstorm development. The chance for strong/severe storms is non-zero with these different storm systems. Although, with the best forcing currently coming through overnight, overall chances would seem lower at this time. As was hinted in the last forecast package, there is plenty of time for this to change. Thus, just keep in mind that we may have an active first half of the upcoming work week, with the potential for a few rounds of showers/storms.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 621 PM CDT Thu Apr 9 2026

Moisture moving over a frontal boundary across northern Missouri will allow a band of rain to persist across eastern Iowa and northern Illinois. Visibilities/ceilings will collapse to IFR/LIFR conditions through 09z/10. While there is a potential for TSRA through 12z/10, the current probability looks to be 10 percent. That probability could change if the low level jet veers further east than currently forecast. After 12z/10 rain will dissipate with conditions slowly improving to VFR through 00z/11.

DVN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

IA...None. IL...None. MO...None.